Too old to become a nurse? Need opinions

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am 44 yrs old. I will be homeschooling my daughter until I'm 48 yrs old. In order to start earning money at home, I'm considering doing medical transcription. But long term I want something more and have been interested in nursing for sometime. Do you think I'm too old to consider entering into a nursing career? I'd prolly start school so I could start job hunting the summer before I turn 49. Am I nuts?!

If I weren't going into nursing later, I'd prolly try to continue my school in med. office admin. or healthcare mgt. I'd prolly be good at those, but I enjoy taking care of other people and I think I would enjoy being a ob/gyn or pediatric nurse.

I don't want to sell myself or my potential short by giving up on the idea but yet I don't want to be thinking something that crazy to consider lol. I also have to carefully plan this because of past school loans I've got from about 3 yrs of undergrad in liberal arts, business, and Biblical studies.

Watching my school expenses is a hire priority. Once reason I want to go back to school is to make a better income to pay off our debts which includes past school loans. I figured the medical transcription, From research I've been doing, can potentially be a good way to begin doing that as a work at home job.

I plan to look into scholarships and found one that might be good: they pay tuition, books, and a monthly stripend in exchange for working at understaffed facilities. I would consider that one if it looks like others aren't an option.

Another option I might have is doing medical transcription for a local employer who refunds tuition costs.

Specializes in Correctional Nursing.

I agree with FLMomof 5 that although some of us are enthusiastic students... some of us are older but have been working in professions that are physically even more demanding than nursing. I worked as a flight attendant for 18 years and am used to being on a plane for 12 hours at a time, pushing a 200 lb cart through the aisles, carried luggage, etc... and tended to many medical emergencies at the same time. I know it's not the same thing exactly, but nursing also isn't the only physically difficult profession out there that is attracting older people. I think most of the posts have agreed that you need to do your research, know yourself and your finances, and be reasonable about what to expect.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Yes, many of us who reply are enthusiastic students not nurses.....

Now, if being our age is as "hard" on us physically as this one thread is cautioning....why aren't the older nuses retiring because it is too tough on their bodies? Just an honest question.

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Thanks for not getting all offended by my post. I appreciate your interest in having a good, respectable conversation about it.

As for your question quoted above ... My answer is "they are." That's part of the "nursing shortage" issue. A large percentage of nurses leave the bedside within a few years of entering the field. Either that, or they drop their hours to part time. That's why there is a shortage of nurses in those bedside staff nurse roles (the ones that new grads typically get) while there are lots of people with RN licenses who are not working full time in those jobs.

Yes, there are some people who love that type of work ... and whose bodies hold up ... who continue to work full time at the bedside well into their 60's. But those people are the minority. Most people who go into nursing when they are 20 years old do not become 60 year-old staff nurses.

Of course there are exceptions and I'm sure there will be several responses to this post telling me about this "one nurse that someone knows who is strong and healthy and working as a staff nurse at 75." -- but such people are the exception, not the rule. Also, the older nurses with experience have the benefits of that experience -- including more senority gives them both a higher paycheck (so they can work fewer hours) and also seniority when the schedule is made out. They may work fewer night shifts ... or fewer holidays ... etc. that make the staff nurse job more appealing. A new grad will not have that seniority and may have to work a higher number of the unpopular shifts -- and for a lower rate of pay.

So, comparing the 55 year old nurse with 30 years of experience/seniority with the 55 year old new grad is somewhat like comparing apples to oranges. The one is making more money, has more control over her schedule, and has the expertise to work quickly and efficiently. The other is at the bottom of the income level, bottom of the scheduling seniority list, and is struggling to function in a strange and harsh environment.

Having said all that ... let me reiterate my position that yes, it IS possible for an older new grad to be happy and successful. My point is just that it is not as easy as some students (and new grads) would like to think that it is. There are a lot of older new grads who find themselves unhappy in their new jobs and doubtful that they made the right decision. That's why I strongly recommend that anyone considering it should work some night shifts in a hospital (or LTC facility) as a CNA before investing in the RN education. Work a few holiday shifts and weekends, too. Find out how that feels first by getting a little taste of it so that you can realistically imagine what it would be like to do on a full time basis for a couple of years. If it works for you -- great. But if it doesn't, then you will find out before you have put yourself deeply in debt.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I became a nurse at 34 - have been in nursing for 17 years. Along about my mid-40's I realized (with much reluctance) that I couldn't keep up this pace (12 hour shifts in a busy level one truama center) forever! So...back to school and as an APN (advanced practice nurse), I feel that I can easily keep this pace up for many years to come.

So...that might be another option.

Girl - the world needs nurses. If you are ready and willing to do it, they are willing and ready to take you!!!

I've met girls, women, boys, and men of all ages who are either interested or into nursing. You either will love it, or you wont.

My 14 year old son wants to be a nurse, because he's seen the things I have studied (before as an EMT) and he's so struck by it he wants to follow in my footsteps. :)

Good luck lady - and give us all youngin's a run for our money!!!!

No way, you are not too old! I love the story my father-in-law told me about his mother ( I never had the good fortune to meet her). When my father-in-law went to medical school, his mother decided to go back to nursing school. She had never worked outside of the home, and everyone who knew her was in shock- It was a dream of hers and she had never pursued it because she was so busy taking care of her family. She went to LPN school and graduated at 55. She had a wonderful career and loved nursing!

You should go for it, if nursing is really what you want to do!

I am 48 and applying for an ADN program. have worked in Healthcare for 27 years. Cath Lab where I was a Hemodynamics, & Electrophysiology Ablation Specialist 14 years and Neurology Sleep Manager and Co-Clinical Director for the past 10. My advisor feels that this maybe difficult for me since in her words "set in my ways". I have held my ACLS and PALS current for 20 years. Still I am nervous. The fields are changing. The jump from Technologist to RN seems daunting.

Specializes in Student.

:yeah:Oldguy1962,

I have worried this one over with a couple of my classmates as well. We are in the same age range

as you - or older! After high School, I went to a JC, completed an X-Ray program and did that for 25odd years.

every modality, teaching, .......

THen got out of Health care, but found I missed it, so right now I am at the end of my pre-reqs. Others our age

are second career nursing students also. In speaking with the instructors, I find they appreciate our maturity and dedication. We know how to prioritize, have worked up the food chain, and know how it works. WIth proir Health Care experience - we will have an advantage with our comfort level in patient care, we might have to watch that

we are not over-confident though.

I'm glad you are asking these questions, maybe we need to get a bunch of us old-timers together to cheer

each other along! I'm on the west coast, how are you finding the admissions reqs going?

I have to say the reqs are killing me... I took all these classes years ago but have to repeat seems 20 yrs was to long for things such as Micro- A&P and even english 1301. The types of Students have changed..I get irritated with texting and cell phone ussage of students during classes. not to mention students not prepared for class or changing the topics etc. Some of my Profs are younger than myself, oh my! I sound like my dad.. my wife says I am a bit grumpy these days. all in all it has been worth it. I work very hard to not have a know it all attitude.

yes I think we need a Group for us.. like an old movie we cold be called "Take 2" HA

Specializes in Student.

Take 2 I like that. I also have to take all my stuff again, But this time I have

a 4.0 better priorities. I make sure in all of my classes I keep with the serious students. I have found a few - still younger, but not teenie-boppers right

out of high school! I ended up surrounded by some who were cheating, the prof knew about it -but could never catch them- we discussed it, and I asked him to keep me away during exams. worked for both of us.

My Micro Prof tossed those out who texted and were on the phone in call -

Bravo for him - and I told him so. I|

Don't know about you, but I've become sort of friends with the Profs -most are younger, but they appreciate "older students." Often we look at each other and shake out heads.

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

The OP actually started this thread over 18 months ago, I am wondering what she is currently doing.

No, not too old at all. I am 44 and will be submitting my application to the ADN program this fall. I have one last prereq to finish (micro) and I am done. There are a group of us who have been working through our prereq's together and we range at the low end 30 to the high end of 55. Never too old to do something that makes you happy and is worthwhile!

Good luck!

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